There are not many women in Britain who can count contacts ranging from The Princess of Wales to Made in Chelsea star Olly Locke and David Beckham in their little black book.
But there is one entrepreneur who has straddled the worlds of reality TV, aristocracy and royalty – and appears to know anyone who is anyone.
Jade Holland-Cooper is the owner of fashion and lifestyle brand Holland Cooper and wife to millionaire Julian Dunkerton, 55, boss of clothing brand Superdry.
And while Julian’s business may be struggling against dampened consumer spending, putting 104 of its UK stores at risk, Jade has gone from strength to strength in recent years.
The designer set up her eponymous brand Holland Cooper 10 years ago, which specialises in sexy tailored tweed jackets, £599 leather trousers and luxurious fur-trimmed capes.
Jade Holland-Cooper straddles the worlds of aristocracy, royalty and reality TV – with stars from across the country stepping out in her designs
She started selling her designs at a stall at the Cheltenham Festival, in echoes of her husband who co-founded Superdry in 1985 from a market stall in Cheltenham.
Jade married Julian, who is worth an estimated £441million, in a lavish ceremony in the Cotswolds in August 2018. She was serenaded at the ceremony by Idris Elba and Craig David.
She welcomed a daughter, Saphaïa, in 2021 and a son, Jamie, in December last year.
Her brand has since won a host of high profile fans, including the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex.
So is Jade the best connected woman in the UK? With ties to royalty, bonds with reality TV stars and a connections to one of the top social circle in the country, here FEMAIL reveals all…
CONNECTIONS TO ROYALTY
The Princess of Wales, 41, has long been a fan of the brand and has often been pictured in jackets and coats from Jade’s label
And it’s not just Kate who loves Jade’s Holland Cooper label (right)! Meghan Markle also opted for the designer while visiting Edinburgh in February 2018 (left)
The royal mother-of-three has a number of different coats from the brand, which she has often worn for royal engagements
Meanwhile Prince William and Harry’s cousin Zara has also oft been seen wearing the label to various events over the years
Jade has amassed a number of royal fans since launching her brand a decade ago.
Among them is the Princess of Wales, who has stepped out in Holland Cooper a number of times.
When Kate wore a £179 Fairisle knit sweater to present a CBeebies bedtime story in 2022, it sold out.
Kate also wore the Knightsbridge Coat to the Six Nations in February 2022, a white shirt on a Zoom call with nurses in January 2021, and a tartan coat and a black twill blazer on her tour of Scotland last year.
Meanwhile the Princess also wore a £849 purple and green tartan Marlborough coat on her Scottish tour with William.
And it’s not just Kate who is a high profile royal fan of the label – Megan Markle wore one of her coats during a engagement in 2018 in Edinburgh.
Zara Tindall is also a fan and has been wearing the brand for the past seven years.
She first stepped out in a houndstooth jacket by the label in 2016 for the Badminton trot.
She has worn the brand on a number of other occasions for race days, including to join the designer for the Cheltenham races last autumn.
Further affirming her position within royal circles, Jade has even been designing for the Norland Nannies, the prestigious training college which members of The Firm will often recruit childcare.
Jade has created a specially-designed edition of her celebrated baby changing bag: the ‘Hudson’.
The £329 bag is available as a gift to Norland Nannies who have successfully completed six months in a nanny or maternity role placed by the Norland Agency, or who have excelled in their position.
FRIENDS FROM THE WORLD OF REALITY TV
The reality TV royalty who ALSO love the brand! Jade has long been pally with Olly Locke and his husband Gareth (left, pictured with)
The designer has known Olly’s husband Gareth for a number of years, and was even the one who suggested the two men explore their connection
Meanwhile Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo has also been seen wearing the brand on a number of occasions
Meanwhile model, DJ and reality star Vogue Williams has also been seen out and about wearing Holland Cooper (left and right)
While she may count royalty amongst her most celebrated fans, Jade has a number of friends from a slightly different social circle – the reality TV world.
Jade is good friends with Made in Chelsea star Ollie Locke – and seperately is close with his husband Gareth.
In fact, Ollie, who is an old friend Royal Agricultural College days, was with Jade when she started selling her first designs at a market stall at the Cheltenham festival 10 years ago.
His husband Gareth joined Holland Cooper, then a fledging label, in 2009 and helped to build the brand into what it is today.
In a 2019 interview, Gareth told Drapers: ‘Starting a brand that is made in Britain meant we had to be hands on and become an expert in everything to make the company viable with a very lean roster of staff.’
He left the label for a short time before rejoining as head of ecommerce in 2016. He was promoted to commercial director 12 months later.
Gareth and Ollie even credit the start of their relationship to Jade – the couple first met when they were models in a fashion show for the designer.
Speaking to The Times in 2018, Ollie said: ‘In February of this year, I was at the Cheltenham races with Jade and she said: “You and Gareth have to be together.”
‘It’s one of those hilarious things straight people say when they have two gay friends.
‘I told her: “God no, he’s not for me.” Later, Gareth and I started chatting and something changed.
‘We sat in front of the fire at Jade’s house and chatted for two hours. When we got up, I thought, “I think I might marry him.”’
And the Lockes aren’t the only reality stars whom Jade has been associated with.
Jade has been snapped with Georgia Toffolo, who has also been seen out and about in her label on numerous occasions, and Love Island star Chris Hughes, whom she has often dressed for presenting gigs.
And fellower islander Gemma Owens was announced as an ambassador for the brand last October.
At the time, the 19-year-old said she had long been a fan of the brand, saying: ‘The brand is totally my style.
‘The high quality and luxury details have made Holland Cooper items wardrobe essentials, both on and off the horse.’
Meanwhile Jade is also believed to be friendly with media personality Vogue Williams, who has been seen wearing her clothes to a number of different events.
The presenter is married to Spencer Matthews, whose sister-in-law happens to Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa Middleton.
ARISTOCRACY
Jade and her husband Julian are often seen out and about with the Elbas (left) and Lady Emma Weymouth (right)
As well as brushing shoulders with reality stars and royalty, a number of socialites are among Jade’s closest friends – including Emma Weymouth, Lady Kitty Spencer, Sabrina Elba and Pixie Lott
Jade was among the selective group who were invited to Lady Kitty’s wedding last year in Rome, with the designer opting to wear JLo’s famous Versace dress for the occasion
The mother-of-two was part of an exclusive group who joined Lady Kitty in Italy for her nuptials last year (pictured, with Pixie Lott, Sabrina Elba, Julian Dunkerton, Oliver Cheshire and Lady Kitty)
As well as royalty and reality stars, Jade also has plenty of close friends in the upper circles of society.
Her husband Julian enjoys a close relationship with Idris Elba, having made him a Superdry ‘ambassador’ in 2015 and then hiring him to design clothing for the brand.
Jade is now close friends with both Idris and his wife Sabrina, and it’s through the Elbas that she knows a number of her other society friends.
She is friendly with Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, who is also Prince William and Harry’s cousin, and is often spotted out-and-about with the socialite.
She was among the exclusive guestlist for Lady Kitty’s lavish, star-studded wedding, telling Daily Mail the Rome nuptials were ‘gorgeous.’
She showed off her fashion credentials at the event by wearing J Lo’s famous Versace dress for the nuptials.
Meanwhile she is also friendly with Emma Weymouth, with the gal pals often hanging out as a group.
So close are the two that Emma hosted an over-the-top house party for Jade’s 35th birthday at her home of Longleat.
Others in the group who are regularly snapped out about about with Jade include Pixie Lott and Paloma Faith.
And those aren’t the only celebrity friends of Jade’s.
When David Beckham Becks and his children were photographed trying to blend into Cotswolds life last year, the baker boy caps came from Holland Cooper.
The designer has also shared snaps from actor Luke Evans’ birthday party, and partied at Cheltenham with Lily Allen.
She previously revealed she and Julian have a close friendship group of people they’ve known for years.
She explained: ‘True friendship is being there when it’s not all glitz and glamour. Everyone has down days.
‘Your friends are there to help pick you up, and vice versa.’
MOPPED UP THE CHELTENHAM SET
During Cheltenham, it’s neigh impossible to move without spotting one of Jade’s designs – pictured with Kirstie Gallagher and friends at the races)
While Royal Ascot offers a chance for race enthusiasts to sport sweet pastel dresses or vibrant statement ensembles, Cheltenham has ignored mainstream trends and instead ‘fashion-conscious country types’ show off their traditional style.
The historic society event, which dates back to the early 19th century, unveiled a new ‘inclusive’ dress code this year, which organisers hoped would make spectators feel ‘confident and at-ease’ for their visit.
But despite dresses, heels and hats no longer being mandatory, glamourous guests have still opted to pull out all the fashion stops for the annual event.
During this year’s event, you couldn’t move for the label’s distinctive chunky HC logo and big gold buttons.
Forget muddy wellies and fleeces that smell of wet dog, these are clothes for the stylish new country set who want to look chic, whether they’re at a horse fair or Soho Farmhouse.
It’s not quite catwalk prices, but it’s a furlong above the High Street, and comes with some impressive endorsements.
Amanda Holden and Kirsty Gallacher are also fans.
It says a lot about her customer base that the brand has an equestrian range and skiing collection.
While the £949 trench coat may be beyond most women’s budgets, a few more could afford to splurge on a £65 HC belt or a £139 HC bracelet.
Jade was among those who were in attendance at Cheltenham this year, opting for a striking beige houndstooth suit.
Her label has a marquee spot at Cheltenham’s Shopping Village – which boasts around 58 country-focussed British businesses.
This year’s official dress code for the festival, posted on the event’s website, outlined exactly what racegoers should consider when choosing an outfit.
It read: ‘For some, wearing a nice sweatshirt, pair of jeans and clean trainers is what makes them feel confident and at-ease.
‘For others, they might prefer to turn heads with a sharp suit or glamorous dress and high heels, particularly for one of our big race meetings.
‘But whatever your tastes, the most important thing when choosing your outfit is, of course, comfort and confidence.
So wear what feels right for you and will keep you feeling your best from start to finish, whatever the weather.’
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